Pune: Scenic hills, pleasant weather, and convenient highways have made Somatane, Shirgaon, Gahunje, and Sangwade attractive 'second home' destinations for the wealthy from Pune and Mumbai.

This has led to a construction boom, with skyscrapers replacing fields and land prices skyrocketing from seven lakh to twenty lakh rupees per guntha.

Due to the increasing urbanization in cities, with its associated air, water, and noise pollution, along with traffic congestion, affluent individuals from Pune, Mumbai, and even other states are seeking the peaceful and pleasant environment of villages close to the city's boundaries in the Pavana Maval area.

Sensing this opportunity, many builders have focused on villages like Somatane, Shirgaon, Gahunje, and Sangwade, purchasing land extensively.

The allure of the natural surroundings, abundant water from the Pavana River, connectivity via highways to Mumbai and Pune, pleasant weather, and proximity to agro-tourism centers near the hills have captivated urban residents.

As a result, land prices in Somatane, Shirgaon, Gahunje, and Sangwade have soared, with prices per guntha increasing from an average of seven lakh to twenty lakh rupees.

Shift Towards Comfortable Living

Many young people are now inclined towards a more comfortable lifestyle, preferring to deposit the money from selling their land into banks and live off the interest, rather than toiling in the fields for meager earnings.

This trend has led to a decline in the cultivation of traditional crops like rice, nachni, varai, sugarcane, wheat, jowar, bajra, flower farming, and vegetables, giving way to concrete jungles.

Over the past ten years, skyscrapers have mushroomed in Sangwade and the surrounding villages, surpassing the number of residents.

Rohan Jagtap, Sarpanch, Sangwade said, "Farmers should think about the future generations and adopt modern farming methods instead of selling their land."

Nitin Murhe, Former Sarpanch, Somatane said, "With agriculture expected to gain importance in the future, farmers should refrain from selling their land."